Pneumatic cushion heel pad



May 23, 1933.

J. c. KELLER 1,910,609

PNEUMATIC CUSHION HEEL PAD Filed Nov. 9, i951 5 16 J02? 672017615 Keller INVENTOR 10 l I I I .15 BY fi ATTORNEY5' PatentedM'ay 23, 1933 NITED TATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN OHLBLm mum, 0] CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABSIGROB 1'0 KILLER PNEUIA'I'IC FOOTWEAR OOIPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS rnnmwno cosmos near. ran

Application fled Iovember O, 1831. Serial No. 578M.

My invention relates to im rovements in pneumatic shock absorbing evices, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a neumatic shock absorbing device having so stantially the resiliency of air.

A further object of my invention is .to

rovide a means whereby air may be coned at atmospheric ressure in a thin, flexible container for shoc absorbing purposes.

A further object is to provide an extremely efi'ective shock absorbing device adaptable to be inserted within a sh A further object is to rovide a pneumatic shock absorbing device w hereby a layer of air may be interposed between a human heel and the-heel of a shoe.

A further object is to provide a neumatic shock absorbing device in which t e full resiliency of the air may be utilized for shock absorbin purposes. a

,A furt or object is to provide means whereby air may be confined in such a manner as to prevent shocks incidental to walking from being transmitted to the user to any injurious extent.

A further object is'to provide means whereby the pressure of confined air may be varied as desired.

A further object is to provide a pneumatic shock absorbing device having means whereby the air in the pad may be replaced if desired. I

A further object is to provide a shock absorbing device having means whereby the airdcontained within the device may be varie @ther objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawin forming part of this ap plication, in w ich Figure l is a top lan view of a shock absorbing device embo ying my invention,

Fi ure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the de vice as shown in Figure 2,. a portion thereof being shown in section for revealing the valve structure, and

Figure 4 is a. side elevation of my device as applied to a shoe.

In carryin out my invention, I.provide a'i shock absorbing member which may be any desired shape but which preferabl conforms in contour to the heel portion 0 the inner sole of a shoe and which may be constructed of any resilient material, such as, for instance,- gum rubber. The body portion 1 comprises a top portion 2 and a bottom-portion 3 which may be connected to ether at the. outered 5 thereof in any suitable manner such as, or instance, by vulcanizing to provide a oompartme-nt or chamber 4 tnerebetween. The body rtion 1 may have a thickened or enlarge wall portion 5 which provides an in- 7 ternally extending portion or projecting portion 6 which is integral therewlth and extends within the chamber 4 as shown in Fig:

ure 3. In making the body portion 1 the half portions 2 and 3 may be formed separately n and then disposed one oneach side of a mould. which conforms in contour to the chamber 4. The half portions 2 and 3 may then be vulcanized around the edges of the mould from the point A to the oint B. The portions 7 and 8 of the hal portions 2 and 3 may be left unvulcanized in order that the mould may be removed after which removal the portions 7 and 8 are united together.

The thickened portion 5 is provided with a transverse opening or passageway 9 therethrough for providing communication be tween the compartment 4 and the exterior of the body portion 11. An L-shaped valve member 10 may be provided having a stem portion H and a leg portion 12. The stem portion ll may be disposed in the passageway 9 and may be provided with an enlarged head por tion 11 which seals the passageway 9 Whereby communication between the compartment 4: and the exterior of the y portion will be cut off. The stem portion 11 may be disposed in and Withdrawn from the passageway 9 by any suitable means such as, for instance, using the leg 12. The leg 12 may also 100 flfl tages in that the air in the chamber 4t may be pneumatic cushion heel serve as a means for properly positioning the head portion 11' within the passageway 9. ll desired, a sheet or coverv portion 17 conforming in general contour to the shape of the body portion. may be disposed over the half portion 2 and may be fixedly connected therewith by any desired means such as by gluing it to the body portion. I

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood; The device when disposed in the heels of shoes provides a most resilient means for absorbing the shock which is ordinarily transmitted to the wearer while walking. The body portion may be used without the valve 10 and the passageway 9 may be sealed in any suitable manner after the desired amount of air has been placed in the chamber 4;. lit the l..-shaped member is utilized, however, the device possesses advanreplenished by withdrawing the L-shaped member from the passageway 9. The chamber l will then be reinflated by reason of the portions 2 and 3 being curved or arched outwardly in such a manner as to tend to prevent the chamber 4: from being flattened. The valve member 10 may then be replaced in the passageway 9 for confining the air within the compartment.

llt will also readily be seen that should the compartment when fully inflated contain too much air to suit the needs of the wearer all that is necessary is that the valve member 10 be removed from the body portion and the half portions 2 and 3 be moved toward each other until the amount of air in the chamber 4: suits the need of the wearer at which time the valve member is redisposed in the passageway 9 for holding the desired amount of air in the compartment and for preventing any more air from entering therein. The head portion 11 will always be firmly imbeddedin the projecting portion 6 when the valve member 10 is associated with the body portion by reason of the fact that the air pressure exerted on the sides of the projecting portion 6 by the air in the chamber, together with the natural elasticity of the projecting portion will hold the walls of the passageway in pressing engagement with the head portionll.

lit will of course be readily understood that l do not confine myself to the particular form of the pneumatic shock absorbing device shown as it is obvious that a flexible casing may be made in any desired form and sealed inan suitable manner.

T c aim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a flexible ad for shoes comprising a gum rubber bo y portion having a central cavity formed by outwardly extending integral and continuous concavo-convex top and bottom walls connected together at neiaeoe their outer edges to form a substantially thin flat peripheral flange.

2. As an article of manufacture, a flexible pneumatic cushion heel ad for shoes comprising a gum rubber ho y portion, having a central cavity formed by outwardly extending integral and continuous concavo-convex top and bottom walls connected together at their outer edges to form a substantially thin flat "peripheral flange, the portion of the flan e at the rear of the bod portion being thic er than the portion of tlie flange at the front of the body portion.

3. As an article ofmanutacture, a flexible pneumatic cushion heel pad for shoes comprising a gum rubber body portion having a central cavity formed by outwardly extending integral and continuous concavo-convex top and bottom walls connected together at flat peripheral flange, said cushion heel ad also being provided with a cover secure to said body portion, said coverextending in front of said body portion.

v i. As an article of manufacture, a flexible pneumatic cushion heel pad for shoes comed to be glued to the instep portion of the 1nsole of a shoe.

5. As an article of manufacture, a flexible pneumatic cushion heel pad for shoes comprising a gum rubber body portion having a central cavity formed by outwardly extending integral and continuous concave-convex top and bottom walls connected together at their outer edges to form a substantially thin flat peripheral flange, the portion of the flan e at the rear of the bod portion being thic er than the portion of the flange at the front of the body portion, said cushion heel pad also being provided with a cover secured to said body portion, said cover extending in front of saidbody portion, and being adapted to be glued to the instep portion of the in-sole of a shoe.

'JUHN CHARLES KELLER.

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their outer edges to form a substantially thin 

